Argentina growing regions turn hotter and drier

In the fourth week of January 2024, week-ending Jan. 27, precipitation trends reversed from previous weeks in Brazil with drier than normal conditions in southern Brazil but wetter trends across northern Mato Grosso. 

In Rio Grande do Sul this was the coolest and fifth-driest fourth week of January in 30-plus years, according to data from WeatherTrends360. With temperatures turning cooler, the dryness wasn’t a huge concern for crops, especially since rainfall has been plentiful thus far this season.

While the showers were needed across much of central and northern Brazil, increased precipitation does pose certain challenges as soybean harvest and second corn crop activities pick up pace. If the weather turns too wet, it can delay soybean harvest and subsequent second corn crop planting which has already seen its fair share of weather-related delays.

Moving into the February 2024 calendar, precipitation is expected to continue in parts of central and northern Brazil while drier than normal trends continue for southern Brazil.

In Argentina, where conditions this season have overall been more hospitable for crops than major growing regions of Brazil, the weather will see a change to a hotter and drier pattern. Despite this, Argentina remains in a much healthier position than last year when persistent heat and dry conditions cut production and contributed to drought. The hot and dry pattern would need to continue for an extended period of time to cause significant issues. This will be the second-hottest and fourth-driest end to January in 30-plus years for the major soybean growing regions of Argentina, according to forecasts from WeatherTrends360. The chance of precipitation should increase as the calendar switches to February.